From billowing dresses and maternity corsets intended to conceal a woman's baby bump to the bodycon trend seen on expectant mothers today, see how pregnancy fashion has changed over the years.
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1
1595
Wikimedia Commons
The first recorded maternity gown came about in the Baroque period and was called the "Adrienne." It featured an empire waist and a skirt with several layered folds and pleats, allowing it to expand along with the expectant mother's belly.
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2
1860
Wikimedia Commons
In the thick of the highly prudish Victorian era, pregnancy was considered a condition to be concealed. Enter: the maternity corset. This cringe-worthy garment was structured with whalebones and intended to restrict and minimize the appearance of a baby bump. And doctors *actually* endorsed these...
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3
1880
eBay
Just add ruffles. No one will know.
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4
1924
Creative Commons/Flickr
The Roaring Twenties brought a welcome reprieve from the restrictive clothes that were popular in decades prior. Just as normal women's fashion shifted to looser, freer silhouettes, so did maternity fashion.
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5
1930s
Tumblr
In lieu of dresses, separates started coming into play. Pleated trapeze tops could be cinched in during early months and worn loose once she starts to show.
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6
1940s
Tumblr
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7
1953
Getty Images
Ball popularized the maternity style of the '50s, appearing on her hit show I Love Lucy in demure smock tops and voluminous separates.
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8
1957
Getty Images
Elizabeth Taylor
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9
1960s
Tumblr
The A-line silhouettes of the 1960s were ideal for the early months, but weren't as versatile in terms of growing with the baby bump. It was around this time that women began to buy maternity clothes for each stage of their pregnancy.
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10
1968
Everett
Babydoll dresses were a favorite of moms-to-be for their open, flowy shape. Mia Farrow epitomized the look in Rosemary's Baby.
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11
1969
Getty Images
By the late 1960s, the first influences of the '70s were visible even in maternity wear, à la Sharon Tate's bohemian tunic dress.
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12
1971
Getty Images
Jane Birkin
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13
1977
Getty Images
Tiered maxis were a popular style of the decade in general, but proved especially useful in covering a blossoming baby bump.
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14
1981
Getty Images
Enter the 1980s, when everything was taken to extremes. Extreme volume, extreme proportions, extreme shapelessness. Princess Anne managed to avoid the common pitfalls of the decade's style in an elegant, oversized cape.
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15
1982
Getty Images
All eyes were on Princess Diana during her highly publicized pregnancy. Everyone's favorite royal made oversized shirtdresses in baby pastels an instant trend with moms-to-be around the world.
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16
1982
Getty Images
Princess Diana
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17
1982
Rex
Princess Diana
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18
1983
AP
Jerry Hall pregnant with daughter Elizabeth Jagger.
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19
1987
ClickAmericana.com
As women were moving out of the domestic domain and into the career world more and more, finding workplace-appropriate maternity wear became a thing to consider for the first time.
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20
1987
ClickAmericana.com
These mixed graphic prints have '80s written all over them.